According to mall management "something" is going in up there, but were tight lipped as to what. That usually means nothing is signed yet. I do know that a "snack" shop that will sell candy, pop & other things is due to open near the food hall soon.

plaidguy wrote:Looks like Aunt Annie's is moving to a permanent kiosk on the first floor in the center of the mall where Microsoft was. Perfume store has also moved to another bay, meaning all four bays on the second floor near Younker's will be empty. Wonder if someone is moving in to take the whole space since they relocated two businesses?

Random question... When a merchant is relocated, who pays for said remodel and relocation? I'm sure it was not cheap for whomever paid to move Raising Cane's. If a merchant wants a bigger space I'd see them paying, but a move at the malls discretion is another thing.

plaidguy wrote:Looks like Aunt Annie's is moving to a permanent kiosk on the first floor in the center of the mall where Microsoft was. Perfume store has also moved to another bay, meaning all four bays on the second floor near Younker's will be empty. Wonder if someone is moving in to take the whole space since they relocated two businesses?

Random question... When a merchant is relocated, who pays for said remodel and relocation? I'm sure it was not cheap for whomever paid to move Raising Cane's. If a merchant wants a bigger space I'd see them paying, but a move at the malls discretion is another thing.

Usually owners of retail and office space offer a tenant build out allowance. They are negotiable and can range from paying 100% to a small portion of the cost.

It was the mall that needed us to move. First we were relocated for DSW, then it was House of Hoops & then it was for Rue 21. When H&M was coming in, they tried to move the Afternoon & the owner didn't like any of the spots open, so she closed. She was one of the original tenants when the mall opened in the late 60's. Pretty much, if the mall needs you to move, they'll offer different locations & it's up to the retailer if they want to take one of the spots or not. Frustrating & expensive, but we're getting people who never even knew we were in the mall. So that's a good thing!

That's crazy how it works in the Mall. From what I have seen elsewhere, the tenant usually gets some compensation. I have even heard of tenants getting a remodeling allowance when they renew their lease.

When we had a store at Mall of the Bluffs, they did give an allowance for remodel but there were trade offs, like a multi-year lease. That was back when GGP still owned it & the mall was in decline. Westroads doesn't do any of that as far as I know. They did do plumbing & electrical for H&M but I think that was a special circumstance.

debradomayer wrote:It was the mall that needed us to move. First we were relocated for DSW, then it was House of Hoops & then it was for Rue 21. When H&M was coming in, they tried to move the Afternoon & the owner didn't like any of the spots open, so she closed. She was one of the original tenants when the mall opened in the late 60's. Pretty much, if the mall needs you to move, they'll offer different locations & it's up to the retailer if they want to take one of the spots or not. Frustrating & expensive, but we're getting people who never even knew we were in the mall. So that's a good thing!

So if none of the open spots are good, what happens to the lease? There needs to be, some wiggle room in these forced move situations.

With our store, the moves were made when the lease expired & then the owners signed a new one for the new location. We've been lucky that all of the spaces have been good in size and with one exception, good exposure and location. The mall usually waits until leases are up before they move stores around.

I was at Westroads Sunday. The area directly across from the food court where the retailers were pushed out has a sign up and it reads, "Eat Play Drink-Lounge" or "Shop Play Drink-Lounge." I can't remember the exact wording but it had some combo of 3 words then lounge.

Several years ago, more than 5 I believe, I got called by the MSR Group for a focus group for something like this at Oak View (same owners as Westroads). They were trying to come up with some concept where guys would go play games, relax and drink (I think they were trying to figure out if coffee or alcohol worked better in the setting). The big thing was at least with my group, no one seemed real interested in it. Or at least it was not going to get anyone to go more or stay longer when they did go to Oak View.

The pictures around the construction looked exactly like what they were describing to us. Board games will be there.

Greg S wrote:I was at Westroads Sunday. The area directly across from the food court where the retailers were pushed out has a sign up and it reads, "Eat Play Drink-Lounge" or "Shop Play Drink-Lounge." I can't remember the exact wording but it had some combo of 3 words then lounge.

Greg S wrote:I was at Westroads Sunday. The area directly across from the food court where the retailers were pushed out has a sign up and it reads, "Eat Play Drink-Lounge" or "Shop Play Drink-Lounge." I can't remember the exact wording but it had some combo of 3 words then lounge.

Kinda like a Dave & Buster's type of thing?

No-though that would have appealed some to me. These are more of the board game variety. Almost like Spielbound http://spielbound.com/ crossed with a coffee shop. I just could not tell if it has more for coffee, alcohol drinks or both.

Greg S wrote:No-though that would have appealed some to me. These are more of the board game variety. Almost like Spielbound http://spielbound.com/ crossed with a coffee shop. I just could not tell if it has more for coffee, alcohol drinks or both.

Greg

Slightly off topic, but Spielbound is both a coffee shop and has alcohol.

Greg S wrote:No-though that would have appealed some to me. These are more of the board game variety. Almost like Spielbound http://spielbound.com/ crossed with a coffee shop. I just could not tell if it has more for coffee, alcohol drinks or both.

Greg

Slightly off topic, but Spielbound is both a coffee shop and has alcohol.

Yeah I go there sometimes for trivia on Wednesdays. I think of it more as a game place that has coffee and beer. The place at Westroads looks more like a coffee shop in the pictures.

Greg S wrote:I was at Westroads Sunday. The area directly across from the food court where the retailers were pushed out has a sign up and it reads, "Eat Play Drink-Lounge" or "Shop Play Drink-Lounge." I can't remember the exact wording but it had some combo of 3 words then lounge....Greg

I walked by there today (across from the food court), and from the graphics Jones Bros Cupcakes will be a key part of this project. The decor appears to blend with the food court, (rustic wood, modern fixtures, etc.). I did not notice much reference to board games, but it may be there. There was a reference to Auntie Anne's to be there as well, but since they already moved not sure what the deal is with that.

I wonder if this is a pilot project with GGP as the new food court was.

Greg S wrote:I was at Westroads Sunday. The area directly across from the food court where the retailers were pushed out has a sign up and it reads, "Eat Play Drink-Lounge" or "Shop Play Drink-Lounge." I can't remember the exact wording but it had some combo of 3 words then lounge....Greg

I walked by there today (across from the food court), and from the graphics Jones Bros Cupcakes will be a key part of this project. The decor appears to blend with the food court, (rustic wood, modern fixtures, etc.). I did not notice much reference to board games, but it may be there. There was a reference to Auntie Anne's to be there as well, but since they already moved not sure what the deal is with that.

I wonder if this is a pilot project with GGP as the new food court was.

Lonnie

The article in the World Herald mentions shuffleboard and other games.

I definitely still miss Sbarro. It's been two years now, been to one in Minneapolis and Denver and they weren't as good as the one we had here. Probably had to do with Omaha being a small city and easier to manage.

mrsticka wrote:I haven't been to Westroads in years. I used to enter and exit through the food court. It was pretty convenient. Now that it's gone, where should I enter and exit the mall now?

The roof, or maybe tunneling underneath and trying to surface right into the shop you're looking for?

..

I find a helicopter landing on the roof might be his best option..

In all seriousness, there are about 50 different entrance/exit points for Westroads. You could simply enter and exit the mall from where the Container Store is right now.. since it's pretty much the exact location of where the old food court used to be..

Good luck.. And let us know if you make it safely in and out mrsticka LOL...

Better yet, don't walk in the Container Store. There is a low-key entrance on the northwest corner of that building. It's between the Container Store and Younkers. There's also one between JCPenny and VonMaur, and one in between Dick's and JC Penny. Really there's not a bad way to get in unless you are looking to avoid masses of teenagers/cool kids and children. Just depends what store you're there for. I'm an in and out kind of guy so I just walk in the entrance that is closest to my store. Also you can park on the upper level of the garage and walk in JC Penny from there.